Baghdad: Iraq on March 25 called on Arab countries to refuse to produce any extra
oil, urging them to make the war to depose Saddam Hussein expensive for the United
States and its allies.
Oil Minister Amer Mohammad Rashid, addressing reporters on a visit to the Al-Dawra
refinery west of Baghdad, called the five-day-old offensive by the United States and
Britain "a crime against the Iraqi people".
"Oil-producing countries, especially Arabs, should not be increasing their
production. This is the least thing to do to make the cost high for the Americans,"
Rashid said.
OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) secretary general Alvaro Silva
Calderon had said on March 20 that the oil cartel would make up any shortage of oil
caused by the Iraq war.
Oil prices have fallen back from about $ 35 a barrel two weeks ago, when uncertainty
about the war was high, to within the $ 22-28 a barrel, which is the OPEC target.
Rashid said Iraq was still exporting oil, but he declined to say how much. Last week
the United Nations suspended the "oil-for-food" programme that allowed Iraq to
export about two million barrels a day under close supervision.
"We have not stopped oil exports, the secretary general (Kofi Annan) has stopped the
programme and withdrawn the oil inspectors," Rashid said.
He said Baghdad was committed to meeting domestic demand.
"We are providing oil products to our people," Rashid said.
Agencies
